Blog Prompt: Aftermath of a Natural Disaster

I was awoken by the violent tremors that shook through my room. My bedside lamp flickered and was dead the next minute and while I groped about in total darkness, things – books, files, picture frames started falling off my shelves and were strewn everywhere. Something must have gone terribly wrong.

I ran out of my house in a flash just in time to see a blast of great cloud of fiery hot debris erupted into the air. Oh no, the century year old dormant volcanic mountain, Mt. Fujiyoshi which is ACTIVE! A fountain of fiery lava spurts to a height of several hundred feet or more.

Lava flows swiftly out of the stratovolcano’s side vents and joined the sharp, spiny surface of the ʻaʻā flow from the main caldra. It set fire and burries everything in its path, ranging from houses and trees to roads and cars. A shiver chilled my sipne.

There was total chaos as everybody made a beeline away from the mountain, as far and fast as our legs could carry. The ash-laden gas explodes one after another and steaming ash forms a whitish cloud at the upper cone of the mountain. We were racing against the thick lava clots that were streaming down the slopes in fiery rivulets, leaving behind it a trail of debris and destruction. There were volcanic ashes, mudflows, landslides, rock fragments, animals, people and their belongings all mixed up and rushing downhill at breakneck speed.

There was a cacophony of piercing screams and shrieks. Panic, frantic and helpless were painted in all our ashen face. Although it was mid morning, the whole place was pitch dark because of the volcanic ash had formed a thick blanket blocking out the sun’s ray. Fortunately for some of us, we were able to move to safer grounds. There was an acidic and sulphide odour in the air. Then it started raining ash. Many lives were lost and dead bodies coated with hardened lava were beyond recognition.

For those who survived, it will take a long recovery in the cramped hospital which has never handled such a catastrophe before. Most of them were burnt by the lava flow, bubbling at over 300 degrees Celsius. Homes were lost and families separated. Property was destroyed and transportation came to a standstill. It was a devastating scene with a sombre atmosphere.

Although the local government and the rest of the world acted fast, the progress was slow. Relief started pouring in but because of the inaccessibility and the poor visibility of the place, transportation of medication and food was slow. I craved for drinking water and simple rations everyday, something I had always taken for granted. However, these meagre rations grew less and less with each day.

All the survivors rallied among us, encouraging and spurring each other on. Our spirits were high and there was enormous teamwork. Finally, when the rescue arrived, we were taken to a make shift shelter to recuperate from the physical and emotional scar. We were well taken care of while the rescue team worked round the clock to restore our village.

Although mine is a poor and remote village, the rest of the countrymen helped in one way or another. They were generous, compassionate and big-hearted. It was a warm and heart-wrenching moment for all of us in the village. Everybody pitched in to help and we were assured that in 6 months time, our village will be given a new face with new amenities and structures.